CofC Geology 105 Final || A Verified A+ Pass.
Describe a typical Mesozoic mammal. correct answers Mammals stayed small with dinosaurs
around.
- Scavengers
- Carnivores, omnivores, insectivores
- Flying
What were the possible function on the "sail/fin" on the backs of some pelycosaurs, such as
Dimetrodon? correct answers Thermal regulation
Describe the earliest known mammal, Morganucodon. When did it live? What was the size,
morphology, and ecology? correct answers 1st true mammal.
- Long snout
- Diversity of food choices
- Powerful, tiny jaws for crunching
- Tiny!
- Mammary glands
- Large brain
- Good hearing
Is Dimetrodon a dinosaur? Why/why not? correct answers No, because they went extinct 40
million years before the first appearance of dinosaurs.
Discuss the steps in the transition from Therapsid reptiles to mammals. What were the major
innovations during the transitions? Be sure to include changes to the jaw/ears from reptiles to
mammals. correct answers Therapsid reptiles evolve
-"fangs" for their canines, molars, and incisors.
- warm-blooded
- limbs under body for better movement across Pangea
From what reptile group did mammals evolve? What are the differences between reptile and
mammals? correct answers Evolved from Therapsids.
- Synapsid skull
The main difference is that a reptile has a diapsid skull whereas a mammal has a synapsid skull.
How are monotremes, marisupals, and placentals different with respect to the birth of their
offspring? correct answers Monotremes: egg laying mammals
Marisupals: Grow in pouch (Kangaroos)
- Short pregnancy
- Long nursing
Placentals: Grow in plancenta (mammals)
- Long pregnancy
, - Short nursing
What is the relationship between Cynodonts and early mammals? Explain and cite evidence.
correct answers Cynodonts are the ancestor to mammals because:
- Ear, teeth, hair, nose similar to humans
What characteristics do you share with Theridonts (Therapsids)? correct answers - Incisors,
canine, and molars.
- Powerful jaw
What is a mammal? correct answers - Warm-blooded
- Breathe air
- Specialized teeth
- Nursing young
What is special about the duck billed platypus? What can we learn about them? correct answers
They're weird. They have the venom from reptiles, eggs like birds, and lactation like mammals.
They have electro-reception for hunting.
By the end of the Cretaceous, were there many types of mammals? Explain correct answers Yes.
Dinosaurs went extinct so mammals, with their diverse food options, reproduced without fear of
predators.
Summarize the evidence for a meteorite impact causing the mass extinction at the end of the
Mesozoic era. correct answers High amount of Iridium in limestone clay in Italy. This is super
rare and doesn't exist on top layer of Earth, but common in asteroids.
Why are extinctions important? correct answers
Describe the effects of the meteorite impact on Earth's systems and how these effects would have
led to the mass extinction. correct answers - Nuclear/perpetual night
- Global refrigeration monthly
- Delayed greenhouse warming
- Acid rain
All of this made the Earth very dark, from all the debris in atmosphere, which stopped
photosynthesis. This led to a decrease in O2. Ocean and land ecosystems collapse.
What are shocked quartz and tektites and how are they formed? correct answers Shocked Quartz:
microscopic quartz crystal grains.
Tektites: Glass balls condensed from hot vapor
Describe a typical Mesozoic mammal. correct answers Mammals stayed small with dinosaurs
around.
- Scavengers
- Carnivores, omnivores, insectivores
- Flying
What were the possible function on the "sail/fin" on the backs of some pelycosaurs, such as
Dimetrodon? correct answers Thermal regulation
Describe the earliest known mammal, Morganucodon. When did it live? What was the size,
morphology, and ecology? correct answers 1st true mammal.
- Long snout
- Diversity of food choices
- Powerful, tiny jaws for crunching
- Tiny!
- Mammary glands
- Large brain
- Good hearing
Is Dimetrodon a dinosaur? Why/why not? correct answers No, because they went extinct 40
million years before the first appearance of dinosaurs.
Discuss the steps in the transition from Therapsid reptiles to mammals. What were the major
innovations during the transitions? Be sure to include changes to the jaw/ears from reptiles to
mammals. correct answers Therapsid reptiles evolve
-"fangs" for their canines, molars, and incisors.
- warm-blooded
- limbs under body for better movement across Pangea
From what reptile group did mammals evolve? What are the differences between reptile and
mammals? correct answers Evolved from Therapsids.
- Synapsid skull
The main difference is that a reptile has a diapsid skull whereas a mammal has a synapsid skull.
How are monotremes, marisupals, and placentals different with respect to the birth of their
offspring? correct answers Monotremes: egg laying mammals
Marisupals: Grow in pouch (Kangaroos)
- Short pregnancy
- Long nursing
Placentals: Grow in plancenta (mammals)
- Long pregnancy
, - Short nursing
What is the relationship between Cynodonts and early mammals? Explain and cite evidence.
correct answers Cynodonts are the ancestor to mammals because:
- Ear, teeth, hair, nose similar to humans
What characteristics do you share with Theridonts (Therapsids)? correct answers - Incisors,
canine, and molars.
- Powerful jaw
What is a mammal? correct answers - Warm-blooded
- Breathe air
- Specialized teeth
- Nursing young
What is special about the duck billed platypus? What can we learn about them? correct answers
They're weird. They have the venom from reptiles, eggs like birds, and lactation like mammals.
They have electro-reception for hunting.
By the end of the Cretaceous, were there many types of mammals? Explain correct answers Yes.
Dinosaurs went extinct so mammals, with their diverse food options, reproduced without fear of
predators.
Summarize the evidence for a meteorite impact causing the mass extinction at the end of the
Mesozoic era. correct answers High amount of Iridium in limestone clay in Italy. This is super
rare and doesn't exist on top layer of Earth, but common in asteroids.
Why are extinctions important? correct answers
Describe the effects of the meteorite impact on Earth's systems and how these effects would have
led to the mass extinction. correct answers - Nuclear/perpetual night
- Global refrigeration monthly
- Delayed greenhouse warming
- Acid rain
All of this made the Earth very dark, from all the debris in atmosphere, which stopped
photosynthesis. This led to a decrease in O2. Ocean and land ecosystems collapse.
What are shocked quartz and tektites and how are they formed? correct answers Shocked Quartz:
microscopic quartz crystal grains.
Tektites: Glass balls condensed from hot vapor
